Starting and ending editor sessions

The File Manager editor allows you to edit your data as logical records, in an unformatted or formatted state. Records that are structured into fields are particularly suitable for editing in a formatted state using a template. Data that is relatively unstructured, such as a text file, copybook definition or REXX procedure, can be edited in its unformatted state.

If your data has been written using the ISPF PACK option, you can choose to unPACK the data for easy editing or edit the data in its PACKed format. You can also choose to write previously unPACKed data to the ISPF PACK format. Packing only applies to physical sequential data sets or to members of a PDS(E).